THE LONG JOURNEY…Health, Politics and Human Rights in Eastern Burma​

This report illustrates the crucial role played by ethnic and community-based health organizations (ECBHOs) in delivering healthcare to remote, conflict-affected areas of Eastern Burma. Based on the 2019 Eastern Burma Retrospective Mortality Survey (EBRMS), which covered nearly 700,000 people, it highlights improvements in maternal and child health services—including antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and birth registration—between 2013 and 2019. Despite these gains, over half of children under five remain undocumented, limiting access to essential services. For the first time, the survey also identified rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the region, with limited screening and treatment available. The findings emphasize the growing health inequities and reinforce the importance of expanding ECBHO-led care to meet both infectious and chronic disease challenges.